Bronwyn- a 21” natural fiber art doll

Every time I climb a treeEvery time I climb a treeEvery time I climb a treeI scrape a legOr skin a knee

And every time I climb a treeI find some antsOr dodge a beeAnd get the antsAll over me.

And every time I climb a treeWhere have you been?They say to meBut don't they know that I am freeEvery time I climb a tree?

I like it bestTo spot a nestThat has an eggOr maybe three.

And then I skinThe other legBut every time I climb a treeI see a lot of things to seeSwallows rooftops and TVAnd all the fields and farms there be

Every time I climb a treeThough climbing may be good for antsIt isn't awfully good for pantsBut still it's pretty good for meEvery time I climb a tree

-poem by David McCord

Meet Bronwyn , a OOAK natural fiber doll by Mon Petit Frère. She is made from my 20/21” pattern and has the realistic proportions of a young child. Her head and limbs have been carefully needle felted in sweet smelling eco wool over many, many hours to create firm facial features and smooth and shapely arms and legs.

Her arms and legs are sewn with tidy stitching at the shoulders and top of legs for a standard hinge style joint. Her skin is made from Laib Yala Swiss doll making cotton interlock and jersey. Bronwyn has a sturdy armature running from her head through to her belly. This allows her head to move subtly from side to side and up and down, providing endearing gestures and adding an extra element of fun to those who love to photograph their dolls.

Her hair is made from dark brown camel weft securely sewn to her head. Her deep brown eyes are embroidered and her spattering of freckles are delicately painted. She comes wearing a sleeveless chambray dress with floral buttons and lace and pink tulle trim, a chiffon slip trimmed in vintage lace, a hand knit short sleeved cardigan, a hand knit pixie bonnet, a pair of scrunchy boots and of course her socks and undies.

Bronwyn’s fee is $1150 plus shipping/insurance (to be calculated after address is given). To enter, please comment below. Comments are disabled pending approval, so only I will see them (via email) in order to maintain potential buyers privacy. If more than one person comments, I will randomly draw a name tomorrow at noon EST.

Bronwyn is a collectable doll not suited for small hands but rather for the adult collector. Not for children under 7 due to small parts and long, delicate fibers*

Thank you kindly for your love and support of handmade, one of a kind natural fiber dolls ~xoxo, Megan

Freya...growing up

I recently had a visitor drop by...the sweetest little girl, Freya. The last time I saw her was over 2 years ago this spring.

Here is Freya in 2014. She was such a wee little thing back then...barely school aged and so full of wonder. She left to travel the all over the world, and after so many adventures, was sent to me for a exciting visit. (Would she get a new dress? New shoes? Yes and yes!) I even gave her a salon day in an attempt to tame those crazy locks. No such luck there...but she’s learned to embrace her wild and spunky hair!

I opened the door and welcomed her inside. The last two years had been full of love and exciting travels, and though her heart was full, she was really looking forward to some pampering! We had both learned and grown so much over the last couple years, that it was only fitting that those changes would show in her face.

It was so incredibly exciting to see her more mature and refined face emerge! Such a beauty (but still a little girl ). After that she had a salon day for her still crazy mane, but her lovely curls still fell into her eyes...a little wiser now, but still so full of that youthful wonder.

Next we began working on her new outfit. Her old dress was getting a bit snug, so she felt more comfortable hanging out in her undies! hehe...good thing we were having an unseasonably warm few weeks!

It looks like she learned to knit...now I’m really impressed!

She helped me to finish a pair of snuggly boots while I picked out the fabrics for her new dress. She had one request...girly. Yes, she still loved pink and ruffles. Be still my heart...while I sat marveling over how much she had grown, it dawned on me that she was still just a child. Just a wee bit older and wiser.

Ok Freya, we want to see you now!

There you are! Suddenly feeling a bit shy? Its quite alright, its been a long trip and I know you are itching to go home.

There’s our sweet girl. Its been so wonderful having you here. I will miss you dearly.

....still so much growing up to do. Let’s not rush it. You are only little for so long....but after that, hold on to that piece of childhood in your heart!

#minimesleepover (Part 1)

Several months ago a group of fellow doll makers came up with the idea of a collaborative project involving little dolls. Coincidently, the lot of us so happened to be experimenting in creating dolls that fell within a size range that was small enough to hold in your hand, yet large enough to maintain all the rich detailing of our larger work. After much brainstorming, the idea was born to recreate a mini version of ourselves as children. We are dollmakers from all four corners of the globe, and while the likelihood of the group of us meeting in real life would be next to impossible, a get to together of our dolly surrogates was a rather plausible idea...and that is how the idea for the mini me sleepover was born.

I was honored to have been elected the one to photograph this amazing set of dolls, and for the last several weeks I've been working to coax eight little dolls into settings and scenarios that help to bring to life these tiny souls created from cotton, wool and lots of love.

The girls proved to be an absolute delight to work with....each new set of photos pulled the girls further out of there shyness in front of the camera, and very quickly their individual personalities began to shine through.

While I've thoroughly enjoyed pushing my creativity from the other side of the lens, I'd have to say that my favorite part of having the privilege of seeing all these various dolls first hand, was to observe in real life the unique and special characteristics that each maker brings to their dolls. Things not so apparent on film...the tactile experience of holding these dolls brings about an extra appreciation to a doll admired but only before seen in photos.

From the maker of Lil' Chickpea dolls, was sent mini Krissie, a pint size package of perfection with endless clothing, accessories and various accoutrements that makes her set a visual feast for those with an obsession with perfect detail. Clearly her maker is not one to pare down just because the girl she is dressing is 12" tall. Quite the opposite...she has everything a real girl would have, from the sock monkey to the layered clothing down to the bunny slippers...all in exquisite detail.

Jules, from the maker of Inviting Play, was quite the treat to hold in real life. She was heavy and substantial and she brought with her a soulfulness behind her eyes that reflect the kind and humble maker whom I have gotten to know over the last couple of years. She is a doll maker who doesn't seem concerned with making the most beautiful doll, but rather making a doll who's beauty radiates from within...she creates faces with individuality and character. It that way, they remind me of real children in that they are not cut from a mold, but rather their own unique beings.

Giocare & Amare dolls are what I can best describe as the haute couture of natural fiber dolls. I knew the were fashionable from the photos, but was not aware of how high the level until I saw her in person. Her maker uses only the best designer fabrics and dresses her dolls in ways that I only wish I could dress my real daughter. These dolls would be an absolute treat for the fashionable collector and I can even see them being a doll that a much older child would be absolutely thrilled to own. They appear to be tween girls in age and are the epitome of hip style. Her faces are sweet and quite beautiful too. There's nothing not to love in these dolls!

The last girl I'll talk about tonight (for my bleary eyes are starting to get heavy) is little Mona from VergismeinneichtKuss. I knew I loved this doll from the moment she posted her photo, but it was opening her box and seeing her in person that sealed the love for me! She burst into the room...a fiery girl of only 12" high with a head of the softest spiky hair that clearly had no intention of being tamed. The simple faces of these dolls (tiny eyes and just the hint of a mouth) lends to endless expression and a certain "life" to her that face with more refined detail wouldn't offer. I've been very tempted to put this girl in my pocket and keep her all for my own. She a pistol and guarantee will bring a lot of joy to her new owner.

I will write about Posie and Pudge, LIEF monster and Ma Petite Vie tomorrow when the sun has risen and the coffee cups are once again full...

If you'd like to see more photos from the mini me sleepover, check them out here:

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Handmade by Megan McGinnis

About Me

I am a doll maker living in Columbus, OH My passion to make dolls was sparked when looking for a unique and stylish handmade baby boy doll for my littlest one...and from there Mon Petit Frère ("My Little Brother") was born! I am inspired as a painter, artist and doll maker by modern prints, old photos, vintage objects, and the sweet and simple gestures of children.